Engaging the Science of Storytelling in Archaeological Communication

Abstract

Drawing on multidisciplinary research as well as a case study from the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, this paper argues that archaeologists can better convey information about the past by using well-structured stories that align with how our brains receive and process information. A compelling story engages the aesthetic sense and aids the consumer in empathising with, comprehending and recalling subject matter. This paper explores how archaeologists can communicate more powerfully and memorably using three evidence-based storytelling practices.